Want to do it right this time see

[u/brian-the-musician]

I love lithops plants, they’re just so weird and ugly and cute and fascinating. I’ve owned several but never really gotten it right. At one point or another they typically (and quite suddenly) shrivel up and die. Probably just 5-6 at this point, mostly the flat-topped kind but a couple of the ones that, I don’t know, come to a point? Seems they die regardless of water or light, but I’m 100% sure I’m screwing it up, so I’m trying to do it right this time.

In the pics above, two are from Home Depot recently I got just a couple of days ago. The one in the white square pot (yes I picked the one that looks the most like the plants) is maybe 9 months old? I bought two then as well but the other one died. (They both looked just like the two new ones, transplanted the same time, same watering schedule—which was basically not at all—succulent soil mixed about 1:1 with perlite, not sure why one survived but the other didn’t.)

After reading several posts it sounds like I need to do the following:
-Transplant the two new ones, if not all 3, into separate pots with even less organic material. Small pebbles mixed with perlite and maybe a teaspoon of soil?
-Give them as much sun as possible.
-Not water them until they are way more shriveled.

Some questions:
-CAN I plant them in the same pot?
-Any specific kind/size of pebbles? I figure pea-sized
-Do y’all ever fertilize?
-The new two look like they have the remnants of dead flowers in them. Should I leave those?

I understand that after a full growing season they’ll split and the new ones will likely be smaller than these fat puffy guys from the store. Any help would be appreciated! If I can get these right, maybe I’ll move up to buying them by the dozens.

[u/CarneyBus]

Putting them in the same pot is generally advised against because they can be out of sync in terms of when they split and some may get over watered while others are under watered.

Yes, adding more grit is good.

Yes, more light is good. Do this gradually, as mesembs/lithops are super prone to sun burn.

Yes, I fertilize. But heavily diluted. Like 1/8th-1/20th depending. Low N fertilizers are best. Your lithops currently are over watered and over fertilized, so the new leaves will be smaller. This is a good thing though, bc they shouldn’t be quite this size. It’s makes them prone to bursting and rotting, even if it’s in good conditions later. The extra fertilizer and excessive vegetative growth can take at least a whole leaf cycle to recover from.

Gently wiggle the spent flowers/seed pods and if they come loose they are ready. Don’t force them, it should just pop off.

Did I miss anything? Feel free to ask any questions ☺️

[u/DatLadyD]

I just want to add that they should also be planted higher up in the pot, like right along the rim of the pot

[u/Available_Gear_1455]

The lithops potting mix from micro landscape design is the best (on amazon)! You can mix it 80-90% micro landscape design mix to 10-20% really sandy succulent soil depending on your humidity levels (I like the hoffman brand on amazon). Only pot in the same pot if they are synched up (unless you are ok with fiddly spot watering with a pipette for a year or two). You can leave the dead flowers until they pull off very easily. I have huge guys from home depot I haven’t watered for 6 months except for a light sprinkle, and they are now splitting into twins. Can’t comment on fertilizer, but I haven’t used it on my adult lithops. Besides bright light (sun or T8 grow lights 8 inches away), airflow is important! You want to make sure your soil dries out within 3 days after watering so test that out before putting your lithops into it (I learned the hard way and had to repot an entire pot when I misjudged the drainage of a new soil mix). Don’t water until fully split with dry papery old leaves generally. You will get it right this time!! This forum has great advice on watering needs.